What just happened? It seems that no one is safe from being exploited in a crypto scam, not even the world's oldest known tortoise. In a bizarre series of events, someone claiming to be the 194-year-old animal's trainer claimed he had died and asked for cryptocurrency donations. But don't worry: Jonathan is still going strong.
Several large media outlets, including the BBC, USA Today, and the Daily Mail, reported yesterday about an X post that purportedly belonged to Joe Hollins, a vet who has previously cared for Jonathan.
"Heartbroken to share that our beloved Jonathan, the world's oldest living land animal, has passed away today peacefully on Saint Helena," the author wrote.
"As his vet for many years, it was an honour to care for him – hand-feeding bananas, watching him bask in the sun and marvelling at his quiet wisdom. He leaves behind a legacy of resilience and longevity that inspired millions. Rest easy, old friend. You'll be missed more than words can say," the post continued.
– Robert Midgley (@RobertMidgley07) April 1, 2026
While it was widely reported as factual and received 2 million views, checks by The Guardian confirmed that the real Hollins does not use X, Jonathan is very much alive, and the account was based in Brazil.
While some might have thought this to be an April fools' prank it bad taste, it appears to have been more sinister than that: the imposter was reportedly asking for cryptocurrency donations.
Hollins wrote a Facebook post confirming Jonathan has not died and that the X post, which uses American spelling, was not his but a "con." The vet revealed that even researchers in the US who are unraveling Jonathan's DNA had sent condolences.
The hoax account later claimed this was an April Fools prank and asked if anyone had sent crypto. They also included what looks like a Solana-style wallet address in the post.
– Joe Hollins Vet St. Helena Island (@JoeHollinsVet) April 2, 2026
The world's oldest known land animal, Seychelles giant tortoise Jonathan was born around 1832. He has lived in the grounds of the governor's mansion on Saint Helena since 1882, when he arrived as a gift to the South Atlantic island.
Saint Helena governor Nigel Phillips also confirmed Jonathan was alive and well after receiving anxious messages yesterday.
The Guardian reports that despite being blind from cataracts and having lost his sense of smell, Jonathan often tries to mate with two younger tortoises who also reside on the governor's property.
Crypto scams that impersonate individuals usually go beyond mere X accounts. Videos of Elon Musk have been used on several occasions, including when Linus Tech Tips and the British Army YouTube channels were hacked – and this was before AI-powered, convincing deepfake videos swamped the internet.